San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
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If you’re looking for an escape in the city, or just a place to park out-of-town guests for the holidays, consider one of these revamped hotels whose design appeal gives you plenty of eye candy whether you’re visiting for a night or a longer stay.
Hotel Triton: Hygge for the holidays
During the recent $6 million renovation of the Hotel Triton by designer Liubasha Rose, a buried treasure was uncovered in the lobby and has become a focal point: An art deco mural by Persian artist Jon Oshanna from the 1940s depicting San Francisco’s Mission Dolores (at right). Rose says the hotel’s redecoration of its public spaces and rooms was centered around the Danish concept of hygge, the feeling of coziness and comfort. “It was important for us to infuse this element of contentment and well-being throughout the property, without forgoing elegance and sophistication,” Rose says. Her custom fixtures are featured in the rooms and public spaces. The lobby renovation also features a Bordiglio marble floor, restored wood ceiling beams and a custom glass-blown chandelier. A collection of Nigerian Yoruba Crowns and display case filled with minerals from around the world brings the hotel’s cozy global vibe into intimate focus. 342 Grant Ave., S.F. www.hoteltriton.com
Phoenix Hotel: Rocking on in the Tenderloin
Midcentury modern with a twist has been de rigueur in recent years, and the Bunkhouse hospitality group’s refresh of Tenderloin favorite the Phoenix Hotel gives us just that. Originally opened in 1956 as the Caravan Lodge, the Phoenix (technically a motel by old definition, given its central pool and courtyard) has a storied rock ’n’ roll history and was frequented by musicians including Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young in the 1960s to David Bowie in the 1970s. When entrepreneur Chip Conley rethought the Caravan in the 1980s as a boutique hotel perfect for bands with large touring buses to park, it turned the Phoenix into a hideaway for a new set of stars including Debbie Harry (legend says she was accidentally booked into the same room as JFK Jr. for the night) and Kurt Cobain. The space’s new look doesn’t veer too much from its original Googie-cool architecture, and the vintage rock posters and neon-tube lighting in the 44 rooms wink at its past. The attached Chambers restaurant also remains a Palm Springs-glam oasis in a neighborhood still shaking off some of its grime and where the Phoenix started the revitalization ball rolling. 601 Eddy St. S.F., www.phoenixsf.com